Furniture top contruction



Aug. 4, 1931. vD, E, HUNTER l1,817,453

FURNITURE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l u Will/Il ll/ll.

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n 4 I n v I I I I i d Aug. 4, 1931. D. E. HUNTER 1,817,453

FURNITURE TOP CONSTRUCTION Filed July 20, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n IH] mi ,NIW

Patented Aug. 4, 1931 UNITED STATES PATET OFFICE DAVID E. HUNTER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T SHAW-WALKER COMPANY,

' 0F MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN FURNITURE TOP CONTRUCTION Application filed July 20, 1929. Serial No. 379,678.

This invention relates to improvements in furniture top construction, and more particularly to an improved construction for tops suitable for desks, table/s and like arti- 'cles .of furniture, such as disclosed in Letters Patent No. 1,542,138 granted to me on June 16,1925.

The top, considered independently of the base on which it rests, consists generally of a core, preferably of sheet metal covered with a layer of pliable material, such as linoleum, together with metal corner caps having the appearance of being inlayed in the covering material. The corner caps have a utilitarian as well as decorative purpose, in that they provide smooth rounded corners, and being metal, withstand the hard usage to which the projecting corners of furniture are subjected.

In outward appearance the top differs but little from that of my -previous patent, so that novel features herein disclosed have to do with certain structural features calculated to facilitate manufacture and assembl to afford greater structural stability, an provide certain commercial 'advantages after the furniture has been put into service.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which y Figure'l is a perspective view of a corner 'Y section of a desk equipped with a top ofmy novel construction.

Figure 2 is a View in vertical section taken diagonally through the corner of the top as on line 2 2 of Figure 1. A

Figure 3 is. a view in horizontalv section through one corner of the top as taken on line 3--3 ofv Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a viewin vertical section 'taken at right angles to one edge, as on line 4-'4 of Figure 1. i i

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the gusset plates used at each corner.

Fi mire 6 is a view similar fn Figure 3 showing a slightly modified corner cap and mounting.

The article of'furniture herein disclosed is a metal desk consisting of a top A secured to a base or pedestal B with its edges extending outwardly beyond the same on all sides.

As already suggested, the top A comprises a core or base 1, preferably a rectangular sheet of metal bent or shaped along its sides to form rounded edges of U-section, the marginal portions 1a bein carried well inwardly bevond the rounded e ges. v

ln preparing the sheet for shaping, the cornersare notched out`s0 that when the margins of the sheet are bent and rounded, a

sector Will be omitted at eachv corner leav` ing symmetrical openings 2 as Would be defined by intersecting vertical planes cutting the edges at right angles. These openingsN extend a short distance inwardly to include a portion of the flat top and inturned edges or fianges 1a of the sheet, andlfor convenience in describing the-shape of these openings itk may be said that they conform to that of the corner caps which are visible in Figure 1 and which presently will be described.

At each corner the inturned margins of the sheet come together in a diagonal or mitre joint, as at 3, (Figure 4) extendin inwardly beyond the corner opening, an at these points is mounted a gusset plate 4, which provides a reinforcement for the corner as well as an anchorage for the corner caps. These gusset plates are Stamped from sheet. metal and then bent to their final shape'as shown in Figure 5. `Each gusset plate consists of a pair o f wings 4a, -45dlying in parallelplanes and connected by a transverse web 4b, cach of thewings being divided to form pairs of'diverging or spreadin arms 4c, 40 at right angles to each other. neach' side of the central web 4b is a pair of rounded ears 4d, 4d eygtendingglaterally at an angle of 45 to thctransverse web, and at 90 to each other. f

These gusset plates are inserted and fixed inside the corners of the sheet metal base 1, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, with the centraltransverse web 4b positioned uprightly and obliquely so as to bring the ears 4d, 4d into edgewise abutting contact with the rounded inner walls of the core, just beyond the corner opening. As thus placed, the two wings 4a, 4a lie flatwise against the internal top and bottom surfaces of the rounded edge of the core with their arms 4c, 4c extending in opposite directions on either side ofthe diagonal joint 3, and by spot-welding these arms to the core, as at 5, the gusset plates become an integral part of the core structure, reinforcing and bracing the corners thereof.

The core having been shaped and gusset plates welded in place, a layer 6 of linoieum or other suitable covering material of a pliable character is laid over the core and secured thereto by cement or adhesive. In pre- Y paring the covering material, the same is cut `to substantially the same size and shape as the core blank and with portions cut away at the corners so that on applying the covering, the material would be bent around the rounded edges and terminate flush with the edges thereof on the underside. Thus, the

layer of covering material 6 would have corner openingscorresponding to those in the core, alt ough they need not be so accurately formed, as the material can be later trimmed to the exact shape when the corner caps are applied.

` The `corner caps 7 (Figures 1 to 4) are preferablyfstamped or drawn from a suitable kind of sheet metal, such as bronze, and therefore have the form of perfectly symmetrical sectors of a fiattened spherical shell, rounded in vertical: or transverse section to conform to thesectional contour of the edge of the covered -top and curved or rounded longitudinally or in a horizontal plane in the arc n of a circle (Figure 4). These caps fit over the corner openings in the top, with their edges overlapping the edges of the covering layer, the latter being trimmed to provide mar mall rabbets of'a depth Aequal to the thic ess of the cap, so that the surface of Y the cap is flush with the surface of the covering material.

.The fastening for the corner caps consists of a bolt 8 which is soldered or brazed to the inner face and at the geometric center thereof. This bolt extends diagonally inward and passes through a hole 9'drilled in the web 4b of the gusset plate 4. A nut 10 and washer 10a arey mounted on the end of the bolt so that by tightening the same the corner cap is drawn inwardly thus clampl ing the underlapping edges of the covering tension on the bolt is taken up by the gusset plate and particularly by the ears 4d, 4d which bear against the core near the edges of the corner opening and thus provide a brace against any possible distortion or de-V iiection of the rounded wall of the core. A feature of the corner caps to be noted at this point, is thefact that they are perfectly symmetrical with respect to the axis of the bolt so that it is possible to fit them in place regardless of top and bottom, and further, should one becomel dented or marred in use, it can be reversed to conceal the least presentable surface.

It will be observed that after the corner cap has been applied and anchored, a cavity is formed by the space between the cap and the gusset plate. If desired, this space may be filled with a plastic cement, indicated by dots in Figure 4, forced through anopening 1l drilled through one of the ears 4d in the gusset plate. When the cement has hardened it provides additional reinforcement for the corner and preserves the caps against denting.

The form of corner cap 12 shown in Figure 6 is of a more massive construction than those hereinbefore described, and one that would be preferably of cast bronze or other suitable metal. This type of cap has edge portions of substantially the same thickness as the covering material, and on its inner side a diagonally extending boss 12a tapped to receive a screw 13 for fastening the cap to the gusset plate. In applying the caps of this form, the edges of the covering material are cut so as to abut the edges of the cap, but otherwise providing the same flush surfaces.

Having considered the construction of the top as a unit separate from the base or pedestal, the means for assembling them will be discussed. While several methods may be employed, it is preferred to employ clamping plates and bolts, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The pedestal'P being of a metal construction permits of the formation of a flange 14 integral with the vertical side or end panel 15 of the pedestal and extending inwardly at right angles thereto. The top 4A rests on this flange (whichmay be assumed to extend entirely around the top edge of the pedestal, although in practice, sections may be omitted) along the inturned marginal portions thereof, thereby bringing the edges of covering layer 6 into contact with the iange. At intervals along the flange' 14 holes are drilled to take short clamping bolts 16, which aiso pass upwardly through registering holes in the inturned margins of the top. On these bolts are clamping plates 17 which bear upon the upper surface of the inturned flanged portion la'of the core 1, and by tightening the nuts 16a carried by the bolts 16, the clamping pressure is distributed over the corners as in the case ofan article of furniture intended for permanent Vinstallation against a wall, or in a corner. Hence, the invention resides in those features hereinafter set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A top for furniture comprising a core, a layer of covering material applied over said core with its margins bent around the edges thereof, and having sections at each corner removed, caps covering the corners and fitting into the recesses formed by the removed corner sections of the covering material of said to and a fastening member for extending diagonally inward from the center of each cap and having endwise adjustable connection with said core.

2. A top for furniture comprising a core, a layer of covering material applied over the top and edges of said core and having sections at each corner removed, a cap covering each corner of said core flush with said covering material, an anchor member extending dia onally within each corner of said core, a astening member extending inwardly from said cap and through said an chor member, and means for drawing said fastening member endwise.

'3. A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet metal having its marginal portions shaped to form edges. of substantial depth and its corners cut away to provide corner/ openings, a layer of covering material applied over said core, caps fitting overthe corner openings of said core flush with the covering material, a fastening member eX- tending diagonally from the central portion of each cap, and an anchor member mounted at each corner of said core and engaged by said vfastening member.

4. A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet material having its marginal portions bent to form edges of substantial thickness and its corners cut away to provide corner openings, a layer of flexible covering material applied over said core and cut away at the corners to conform't'olsaid corner openings, caps fitting over the corners of said top and overlapping the edges ofthe covering material, anchoring members extending diagonall of the corner openings in said core, and a astening member secured to the central portion of each cap and having'endwise adjustable connection with said anchoring member.

5. A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet metal having its marginal portions bent to form side edges of substantial thickness, and an opening at each corner, a layer of flexible covering material applied over said core and bent around the edges thereof with a section cut away at each corner to conform with the corner openings in said core, caps fitting over said corner openings of said top and flush with the edges of said covering material, a gusset plate extending vertically within each corner of said core, and a fastening screw extending diagonally from said cap and anchored in said gusset plate. 6. A top for furniture comprising a core o sheet metal having its marginal portions bent to form edges of substantial thickness and .its corners cut away to provide openings, a

layer of flexible covering material applied over said core, caps fitting over the corners of said top and overlapping the edges of the covering material, a gusset plate mounted within each corner and having upright ears abutting against the edges of said core adjacent said corner openings, and a fastening member connecting said cap with said gusset plate.

7. A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet material having its marginal portions bent to form edges of substantial thickness and its corners cut away to provide openings, a layer of flexible covering material applied over said core and cut away 4at the corners to correspond with said core,` caps fitting over the corners of said top and overlaping the edges of the covering material, a gusset plate extending upright within each corner and having ears' bearing edgewise against said core on .opposite sides of each corner opening, and a diagonal fastening member connecting said cap with said gusset plate.

8. A top for .furniture comprising a core of sheet metal having its marginal portions bent to form side edges of substantial thickness, and a portion cut away at each' corner to form openings, a layer of flexible covering material applied over said core and bent around the edges thereof with a section cut away at each corner to conform with the corner openings in said core, ca s fitting over said corners of said top and ush with the edges of saidlayer of `covering material, a gusset plate fixed within each corner of said core and having an upright web extending diagonally thereof and lateral ears bearing edgewise against the edge of said core on opposite sides ofsaid opening, and a screw extending diagonally from the central portion of said cap and having adjustable connection with the upright web of said gusset plate.

9. A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet metal having its marginal portions bent to form side edges of substantial thick ness and an opening at each corner, a cap fitting over each corner of said core, a gusset plate extending upright within each corner of said core and enclosing a space behind 5 each corner openinga cap fitting over each of said corner openings and anchored to said` gusset plate, and a filler Within the .corner space between said gusset plate and said cap. 10.A A top for furniture comprising a core of sheet metal having its marginal portions lbent to form side edges of substantial thickness and an opening at each corner, a layer of flexible covering material applied over said core and bent around lthe edges thereof, caps fitting over said corner openings, an upright gusset plate extending diagonally Aacross each corner of said core, and forming a cavity behind each capped corner, salu plate having an opening through Which a plastic substance is adapted to be introduced to fill said cavity.

, 11. A core for metal furniture tops comprising a sheet of metal having its margins bent substantially in U-shape to form the projccting edge portions thereof and having secears fitting edgewisewithin said edge portion on opposite sides of the corner openings, a metal cap symmetrically concaved with respect to vertical and horizontal planes pass- Signed at Muskegon, Mich., this 16th dayof July, 1929.

DAVID E. HUNTER.

tions at each corner cut away to form openings, and gusset plates mounted Within the edge portions and at each corner, the same having an upright vertical portion and ears bearing edgewise against the inner edge suri0 faces onl opposite sides of said corner openings.

12. A core for metal furniture tops comprising a sheet of metal having its margins bent substantially in U-shape to form the projecting edge portions thereof and having seetions at each corner out away to forml openings, gusset plates mounted Within the vedge portions at each corner and closing the space adjacent said corner opening, a metal cap 40 adapted to overlie each corner opening and to be anchored to a gusset plate, and a filler within the space at each corner and adapted to be introduced in plastic condition through a hole in each gusset plate.

13. A core for metal furniture tops comprsing 'a sheet of metal having its margins bent substantially in U-shape to form the projecting edge portions thereof and having sections at each corner cut away to form openings, a gusset plate mounted within the edge portion at each corner and comprising an up right diagonal web,yangularly disposed ears abutting edgewise against said edge portions on opposite sides of the corner openings, and corner caps adapted to be applied 'over said corner openings and anchored to said centra ,web of the gusset plate. 14. A core for metal furniturev tops comprising a sheet of metal having its margins 00 bent substantially in U-shape to form the proj ecting edge portions thereof and having sections at each corner cut away to form openings, a gusset plate mounted within the edge portion at each cornen and comprisin an up- 05 right diagonal web and angularly sposed 

